Trouble logging in?If you can't remember your password or are having trouble logging in, you will have to reset your password. If you have trouble resetting your password (for example, if you lost access to the original email address), please do not start posting with a new account, as this is against the forum rules. If you create a temporary account, please contact us right away via Forum Support, and send us any information you can about your original account, such as the account name and any email address that may have been associated with it.

I get the impression that many people here aren't getting the real reason why Sui wants to shut down the Inn.

Sui has a polite pretext reason for shutting the Inn down, and a deeper practical reason. The polite pretext is most of what she explained to Ohana. In a nicely done juxtaposition of many stories of this type, Sui doesn't want to force her life's dreams unto her children. Whereas many stories are about a son/daughter breaking away from the family profession to make his/her own mark in life, this story is instead (in part) about a son who wants to continue the family profession but who's mother is against the idea. But wanting to free Enishi from having to carry on her dreams is just the polite pretext for Sui's true deeper reason for wanting to shut down the Inn, however heartfelt this pretext might be.

The true practical reason is this:

'If I wasn't around, Enishi would run this Inn right into the ground. Him and Takako are utterly inept at running an Inn, and have proven that time and time again. I will not retire simply to see my life's work destroyed by my incompetent son. Better to close it down now, while the Inn's reputation is still respectable. The workers at this Inn might find the idea of leaving it very sad now, but they'd be cursing my name if I passed this Inn over to Enishi, and they had to watch the Inn die a slow and painful death while they work at it.' - Sui's thoughts, imo

And let's face it folks, Sui has every justification and reason in this world to feel the way that she does. I don't fault her one iota for taking the position that she is taking. If I had worked my entire life to make something worthwhile out of nothing, I sure as hell wouldn't let incompetent heirs ruin what I spent my entire life at either.

This is frankly Enishi and Takako's last chance. Satsuki has thrown them a very generous hail mary (the best wedding gift she could have possibly given them), and Enishi/Takako better catch this ball and make the touchdown, or they can forget about ever running this Inn. At some point, good intentions mean squat. At some point, you have to actually start getting things done.

If Enishi/Takako fumble the pass, then it's over for the Inn, barring a total twist ending where Sui gives the Inn to Ohana and Ko.

Now, I can certainly understand how the Inn staff are all very attached to this Inn (and to one another), but Sui's position is totally understandable here.

Now, back to the episode as a whole:

Loved the confession scene. Really had to chuckle at Ohana there:

"Damn it, Ko, it's my turn to confess!" - Ha ha ha ha!

The whole manga scene was really executed well, and pretty funny. It did so many useful things at once:

1. Provide additional shared interests in order to further develop the Tohru/Minchi relationship.

2. Use Jiro in a fitting and genuinely funny way.

3. Make a subtle point about how the authors, creators, and writers that fans admire aren't necessarily the people we imagine them to be. I'm sure that Tohru and Minchi imagined the mangaka for their beloved manga would be some cool, hot-blooded guy - The mangaka equivalent of Kamina (TTGL). Instead, they got Jiromaru.

All the drama surrounding the Inn was very poignant and powerful. Nicely suspenseful.

The artwork and animation for this episode was gorgeous. I particularly found the colored tree backgrounds very pleasing to the eye. If the aim was to capture Autumn colors, this episode succeeded marvelously.

Impressive use of limited time. Almost every cast member was used in this episode, and used well. Almost every scene was chock-full of great characterization moments and/or meaningful plot developments.

Alright Ohana, finally mustered up the courage and invited Ko. Liked his reaction when she left. Lol the manga that inspired Tohru and Minko to become chefs was written by none other then Jiromaru! The bath scene was so funny. Sui actually shared a laugh with Ohana. Where she's coming from is understandable. Didn't think they'ed revolt though.

I get the impression that many people here aren't getting the real reason why Sui wants to shut down the Inn.

Sui has a polite pretext reason for shutting the Inn down, and a deeper practical reason. The polite pretext is most of what she explained to Ohana. In a nicely done juxtaposition of many stories of this type, Sui doesn't want to force her life's dreams unto her children. Whereas many stories are about a son/daughter breaking away from the family profession to make his/her own mark in life, this story is instead (in part) about a son who wants to continue the family profession but who's mother is against the idea. But wanting to free Enishi from having to carry on her dreams is just the polite pretext for Sui's true deeper reason for wanting to shut down the Inn, however heartfelt this pretext might be.

The true practical reason is this:

'If I wasn't around, Enishi would run this Inn right into the ground. Him and Takako are utterly inept at running an Inn, and have proven that time and time again. I will not retire simply to see my life's work destroyed by my incompetent son. Better to close it down now, while the Inn's reputation is still respectable. The workers at this Inn might find the idea of leaving it very sad now, but they'd be cursing my name if I passed this Inn over to Enishi, and they had to watch the Inn die a slow and painful death while they work at it.' - Sui's thoughts, imo

And let's face it folks, Sui has every justification and reason in this world to feel the way that she does. I don't fault her one iota for taking the position that she is taking. If I had worked my entire life to make something worthwhile out of nothing, I sure as hell wouldn't let incompetent heirs ruin what I spent my entire life at either.

This is frankly Enishi and Takako's last chance. Satsuki has thrown them a very generous hail mary (the best wedding gift she could have possibly given them), and Enishi/Takako better catch this ball and make the touchdown, or they can forget about ever running this Inn. At some point, good intentions mean squat. At some point, you have to actually start getting things done.

If Enishi/Takako fumble the pass, then it's over for the Inn, barring a total twist ending where Sui gives the Inn to Ohana and Ko.

Now, I can certainly understand how the Inn staff are all very attached to this Inn (and to one another), but Sui's position is totally understandable here.

I don't know. If they close the inn, what she leaves behind is nothing.

Also, I'm not sure you're right about her practical reason. I think she explained her "real, practical reason" to Ohana - money. They're in debt. Right now, "nothing" would be up. That's why she wants to declare bankruptcy and call it a day. Yes, the fact that she has no faith Enishi can turn it around plays a part - she doesn't want him to get deeper into debt and end up not paying the employees what they're owed, as well as taking the opportunities they have now.

I'm not sure what the mutiny at the end was all about. It's one thing to go against Sui's orders and accept reservations. It's another to make an enemy of the inn alliance. Doubly so if what they want is to continue the inn - it's not like they're trying to end with a bang. Yes, they can be petty and green-eyed lot. All the more reason not to get on their bad side, since no matter what, they depend on each other. Especially a small inn like Kissuiso - they just don't, by themselves, have the personnel to absorb a sudden, complete loss like all the part-timers going away at the same time.

I don't know. If they close the inn, what she leaves behind is nothing.

A lifetime of memories and accomplishments ending on at least a somewhat positive note (i.e. the Bonbori Festival) may not be much, but I wouldn't call it "nothing".

It's certainly better than watching Enishi continue to run the inn into the ground, imo (perhaps that's a better way of putting it).

Quote:

That's why she wants to declare bankruptcy and call it a day. Yes, the fact that she has no faith Enishi can turn it around plays a part - she doesn't want him to get deeper into debt and end up not paying the employees what they're owed, as well as taking the opportunities they have now.

True. She is genuinely concerned for the employees' welfare. I actually find it a bit disappointing that they themselves don't seem to be aware of that.

Quote:

I'm not sure what the mutiny at the end was all about. It's one thing to go against Sui's orders and accept reservations. It's another to make an enemy of the inn alliance. Doubly so if what they want is to continue the inn - it's not like they're trying to end with a bang. Yes, they can be petty and green-eyed lot. All the more reason not to get on their bad side, since no matter what, they depend on each other. Especially a small inn like Kissuiso - they just don't, by themselves, have the personnel to absorb a sudden, complete loss like all the part-timers going away at the same time.

Agreed.

Personally, I wonder if Sui told Enishi to stop booking additional reservations so that Kissuiso could easily spare someone for the Bonbori Festival. This seems to have simply never occurred to Enishi. Poor guy is perhaps already off to a bad start on catching Satsuki's hail mary pass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

RRR, in my view you're not giving Sui enough credit.

Not giving her enough credit? I'm defending her.

Sui has every right to take a pragmatic perspective. This isn't playing house. This is a serious commercial enterprise. Practical concerns are entirely legitimate.

Also, the Inn is her baby. Well, the "baby" of her and her late husband. She has every right to have a sense of ownership of it, and not want to pass it on to heirs that are simply not fit for the job of managing/running it.

Well, I think we both agree that Sui is being basically selfless here, RRR. It's just that maybe I see her reasons as being a bit more idealistic and I take her at her word a bit more. I really think she wants the others to have the experience of building their dream from nothing - which they can never do as long as it's her dream they're pursuing.

I get the impression that many people here aren't getting the real reason why Sui wants to shut down the Inn.

Sui has a polite pretext reason for shutting the Inn down, and a deeper practical reason. The polite pretext is most of what she explained to Ohana. In a nicely done juxtaposition of many stories of this type, Sui doesn't want to force her life's dreams unto her children. Whereas many stories are about a son/daughter breaking away from the family profession to make his/her own mark in life, this story is instead (in part) about a son who wants to continue the family profession but who's mother is against the idea. But wanting to free Enishi from having to carry on her dreams is just the polite pretext for Sui's true deeper reason for wanting to shut down the Inn, however heartfelt this pretext might be.

The true practical reason is this:

'If I wasn't around, Enishi would run this Inn right into the ground. Him and Takako are utterly inept at running an Inn, and have proven that time and time again. I will not retire simply to see my life's work destroyed by my incompetent son. Better to close it down now, while the Inn's reputation is still respectable. The workers at this Inn might find the idea of leaving it very sad now, but they'd be cursing my name if I passed this Inn over to Enishi, and they had to watch the Inn die a slow and painful death while they work at it.' - Sui's thoughts, imo

The impression I got from the talk with Ohana was that the inn was created for Sui, so in essence it and everything until now has been a selfish expression of love between her and her husband. Closing the 'Kissuiso' would be more symbolic as ending the connection between her and the physical inn rather than it being an issue of succession. She already showed remorse over how the inn affected her personal relationships and how the drive to make it successful affected the family and the workers, so I see it more as a way for her to wipe the slate clean for all the selfishness she believes she's done.

Well, I think we both agree that Sui is being basically selfless here, RRR. It's just that maybe I see her reasons as being a bit more idealistic and I take her at her word a bit more. I really think she wants the others to have the experience of building their dream from nothing - which they can never do as long as it's her dream they're pursuing.

Not seeing Sui decision as selfishness, she worries about her son and the employees future (lacking income). This is why she mention they can build their own path to life, just like her.

Well, I think we both agree that Sui is being basically selfless here, RRR. It's just that maybe I see her reasons as being a bit more idealistic and I take her at her word a bit more.

Yes, I agree with that. I do think that the reason I called "polite pretext" has some truth to it ("pretext" was probably a bad term on my part there - "Secondary Reason" sounds better, in retrospect). I think that she really would like to see her son build something of worth out of nothing, for his own sake. But practical concerns likely are the primary reason for her decision, I think.

Which is why I think Enishi/Takako have one last chance. If they can change Sui's mind about their capabilities as Inn managers then I think Sui will also change her mind about closing the Inn.

There's two plotlines that Hanasaku Iroha is going to take right into the final episode I think, and I'm really impressed at how they've been handled so far.

Two major questions are now being put forward:

1) Will Enishi finally get his act together, with the help of his wife Takako, his sister Satsuki, and the entire Inn staff?

2) Will Ohana follow-through on her romantic plans, and end up with Ko?

I think that Hanasaku Iroha will want to end on at least a somewhat happy note, so I think that the answer to at least one of the two questions will be "yes". And both might be "yes" answers.

If Enishi gets his act together, his story will be one of sheer doggedness and determination overcoming personal flaws in order to finally succeed. It might actually be inspirational.

Interestingly, the same would be true of Ohana and her romantic fortunes. If she ends up with Ko, her story will be one of sheer doggedness and determination overcoming personal flaws in order to meet with romantic success.

Given that I've always felt this anime had a vague shonen feel to it (especially with Ohana's character), I wouldn't be surprised to see determination win the day here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decagon

The impression I got from the talk with Ohana was that the inn was created for Sui, so in essence it and everything until now has been a selfish expression of love between her and her husband. Closing the 'Kissuiso' would be more symbolic as ending the connection between her and the physical inn rather than it being an issue of succession. She already showed remorse over how the inn affected her personal relationships and how the drive to make it successful affected the family and the workers, so I see it more as a way for her to wipe the slate clean for all the selfishness she believes she's done.

I couldn't believe she actually started to run away when Kou approached her on the bridge. Seriously - after all that? I wanted to whack-a-mole her right then.

Yeah, I rolled my eyes at that too.

But here's what I think is true of Ohana - She much prefers to lead than to follow. She's really a "take charge" sort of person. So being romantically confessed to makes her uncomfortable, because then she's put in the position of the person merely responding to somebody else's initiatives. She's following their romantic lead. This is why I think Ohana was peeved that Kou was basically confessing to her anew when she wanted to confess to him. She wants to take the lead in their relationship. She wants to be the one to take the initiative.

So the challenge for her is to do exactly that at the Bonbori Festival, and the challenge for Kou is to be patient enough to let her take the lead going forward.

Kou's patience is... utterly beyond reproach ... so I don't doubt he'll hold up his end of the bargain. The ball is in Ohana's court now.

Quote:

Okada is a trollmaster extraordinaire. But if Ohana and Kou don't end up together, the whole series will effectively have been a troll. I'll be pissed, but I think even I would have to laugh...

Agreed. If Ohana and Kou don't end up happening, I'll view the romance side of this anime as a dark comedy.

yay for Ko-Ohana's ending!!! I'm little uncertain about Kissuiso's future... maybe it's better if they close it (after hearing madam manager's speech)
yay for Satsuki as well..... Okami-san and Ohana's talking scene is also done well

I'm siding with Ohana.... let's fest it up!!!

btw, Okami-san's fanservice ruined the bath scene.... lol

__________________

even if you can't see me, even if you can't hear me, I'll be by your side (Kaname Madoka, 2011)anime listmanga list

Nice episode. But lol, Ko screaming to the heavens almost made me think he switched brains with Ohana for a moment. And seeing Sui organizing the bath house with such accuracy in seconds... just left me in awe (I just wish she wasn't nude though). Can't wait to see what the next 2 episodes will cook up.

Okami-san organizing the bath didn't work for me. The humor felt out of place, and defused an interesting scene.

On the other hand, the tension of worrying that we might see her nude was a nice touch, for me. And knowing that she was nude and confident there with the girls made me feel that she was a more real person, denuded of the trappings of her position.

But here's what I think is true of Ohana - She much prefers to lead than to follow. She's really a "take charge" sort of person. So being romantically confessed to makes her uncomfortable, because then she's put in the position of the person merely responding to somebody else's initiatives. She's following their romantic lead. This is why I think Ohana was peeved that Kou was basically confessing to her anew when she wanted to confess to him. She wants to take the lead in their relationship. She wants to be the one to take the initiative.

Eh, really? I think that's a very charitable view of Ohana there. Being a "take charge" person doesn't justify stringing someone along for six months despite professing your love for them, and refusing to truly commit even after being confronted.

My take is pretty simple - Ohana is a scaredy-cat when it comes to romance and her life in general. Not without cause - it doesn't seem like Satsuki was much of a healthy mentor. But I think she's simply much more comfortable butting into someone else's problems than dealing with her own. Classic avoidance, and it's nothing to dislike her for - it's a very human thing, and most people are guilty of it to some degree at some points in their lives.